As the calendar inches closer to March, things are looking good. The Winter Indoor Rugby program – which started in February – has operated as scheduled. Girls and boys aged kindergarten through eighth grade have been able to learn the game of rugby inside the warm Glendale Sports Center gymnasium. That was something that didn’t happen in 2021.
2022 is already off to a good start. According to Burke, she’s already seen record numbers in some of the older age groups at this year’s Winter Indoor program.
As that program comes to an end, Burke has turned her attention to a normal spring. Normal for her would look like the Spring After-School program operating as usual and the return of the Girl’s High School team. Both of those programs are slated to get rolling towards the middle of March.
COVID prevented the Spring After-School program from getting off the ground in 2020, and ended up stopping the Girl’s High School team dead in its tracks. The Spring After-School program returned in a limited capacity in 2021, but the Girl’s High School team did not.
With the possibility of the most normal year we’ve seen since 2019 on the table, Burke is looking forward to some building back Glendale Youth Rugby’s regularly scheduled programming.
“I’m just generally excited about getting kids back to playing rugby again,” Burke said. “I want to have a complete year.”

Even though COVID restrictions are lightening up around the state, Burke is well aware that things can change in an instant. She also knows that Glendale Youth Rugby is in a unique position because kids travel from all over the Front Range to participate in different programs. That means that Burke must keep a close eye on what’s going on in several different counties to ensure that the programs can operate as safely as possible.
When the Spring After-School program and Girl’s High School team finish up towards the beginning of summer, Burke will focus on the teams that she will assemble to participate in Rugby Colorado’s Spring Try League that will run from the beginning of May through the middle of June.
Just as Spring Try League wraps up, the Girl’s High School camp will return to Glendale for the second consecutive year in July. The Girl’s High School camp brings girls from all over the country to Infinity Park to learn from some of the best rugby coaches in the United States. With regular appearances from Women’s Eagles, it’s one of the strongest camps in the country.
August will bring along Summer Flag Rugby, which will allow girls and boys aged kindergarten through eighth grade the opportunity to play non-contact rugby at Infinity Park every Monday throughout the month.
The year will conclude with Rugby Colorado’s Fall Try League, which will run from the end of August through the middle of October.
2022 is lining up to be a year full of rugby.
After two years of watching and waiting, a jam packed calendar is a welcome sight.
If you are interested in any of the programs that Glendale Youth Rugby will host this year, visit GlendaleYouthRugby.com for more information or to get registered today.